Cellist strikes chord at benefit concert

by Shannon Barry, Milpitas Post

Posted:
01/09/2013 03:52:57 PM PST

Updated:
01/09/2013 04:03:09 PM PST

The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month struck a powerful chord with 24-year-old Yena Choi. She shared the raw emotion that she felt after hearing about the 26 people, 20 of whom were first-graders, being gunned down at the school located in Newtown, Conn. with nearly 200 people during a benefit concert for the victims Friday at New Vision Community Church in Milpitas.

"This has touched everybody's heart, and she really wanted to do something," Kaye Waldow said Monday on professional cellist Choi's behalf.

Waldow, who leads the Peaceful Poets group in Milpitas, said she advised Choi on how to proceed with the event by helping her facilitate the timeline, secure a location, figure out the fundraising and get the word out all during a two-week timeframe.

Admission to the event was free, but donations were encouraged for those who attended.

"After the expenses were deducted, there was a small donation of a few hundred dollars to be sent to the Sandy Hook victims," Waldow said. "ÉAgain, it wasn't what they were hoping to raise."

Waldow said the hour-long concert was "absolutely gorgeous."

"Her music ability is obviously top rate," she said of Choi's ability and stage presence.

Pianist Saerom Choi and dancer Sung Ji Park accompanied Choi during the concert made of classical pieces from Debussy, Chopin, Bach and Piazzolla.

"They were very well practiced and organized, and played beautifully together," Waldow said. "ÉIt came across as very professional.

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The audience really applauded her and she had a standing ovation."

Waldow said she decided to help coordinate the event after hearing about the effort from Choi's mother, with whom she is a close friend.

"She is a very cultured friend," Waldow said. "And from what she told me about her daughter, without even meeting her I admired her."

Choi recently graduated with a master's degree from Hochschule f r Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, Germany, one of the leading music conservatories in Europe, and plans to receive a music and ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

"She is a very devout Christian," Waldow said. "She decided one of the things she wanted to do was have concerts to raise money for women's concerns É then this happened at the school."

She said the fundraiser one of many that has sparked from the tragedy is inspirational, along with her achievements reached by only 24 years old.

"There aren't many people of her age that have quite the dedication she does," Waldow said. "I have to admire that."

Contact Shannon Barry at sbarry@themilpitaspost.com or 408-262-2454. Visit us on our social media sites at facebook.com/milpitaspost and twitter.com/milpitaspost.